Flash-light apparatus.



W. lT. BARNUM.' FLASH LIGHT APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 13, 1911.

Patented May 21, 1912.

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CULUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,VIA$HIPII1DN, D- C.

T. BARNUIVI, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS?k FLASH-Herm APPARATUS.

ySpecification of Letters Patent.

ratenteaMay 21, 191e.

Application filed J'uvlyial',l 19'11. Serial No. 638,291.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM '.I`. BintA NUM, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements inFlash-Light Apparatus, of which the following is a description,reference beinghad to the "accompany ing drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, in which corresponding numerals of reference in thedifferentfigures indicate like parts.

The object of my invention is to provide a flashlight apparatus which'shall be so constructed as to enable it to be lfolded in `coml Vp'actform for transportation and the parts quickly assembled for use and thatwithout danger of causingL a premature ignition of the flashlightpowder.

A further object is to secure a downward flash of the light withsimplicity of construction and such as will enable the quantity ofpowder to be varied at will.

To these ends my invention consists `in the combination of elementshereinafter more particularly described and definitely pointed out inthe claims. y

In the drawings, Figure 1, is an elevation of a flashlight closure orbag, a portion of the front being broken away to show the;

ignition apparatus within. Fig. 2, is a view of the body of theappliance forming a part ofthe fuse-plug, as it would appear when readyto be projected into the closure. 'Fim 3, is a view thereof as it wouldappear wiii the head or fuse carrying portion connected therewith, Fig.4, is a central longitudinal sectional view of the head, showing theelectrical contact members and the termi-v nals for holding the fusewire, Fig. 5, is an enlarged sectional View taken upon the line 5, Fig.6, viewed in the direction of the arrow there shown, Fig. 6, is asectional view ladapted to fit.

white linen or lcotton fabric or other suitable flexible Y material towhich fire-proofing chemicals, have been ap-plied in the usual way, thewalls being distended and held in yplace by ymeans of interiorknock-down frame members, not shown, and to which I `make no claim. SaidVclosure may be suspended by means of kcords 2, or otherwise supported.In order the more readily to infsert my improved fuse, I prefer toreinforce or stiften the top wall by means of a stilfening material 3 ofpaste-board or asbestos glued yor otherwise attachedV to the fabric inwhich is formed a circular opening for the insertion of the body of afuseplug which Vbody is generally designated by 4. Said body is formedentirelyfrom compressed fiber or other insulating material and consistsof a central core 5,having longitudinal Vgrooves 6, Figs. 5 and 6,extending throughout its length and arranged diametrically opposite toeach other. Said grooves are intended for the reception ofV terminals 7and S of a circuit cord, to the extremity of which is attached the usualelectrical contact plug 9. Said terminals are connected by means ofbinding screws 10 and 11 to metal strips 12 and 13 respectively, locatedin the bottom of said grooves and held in place by means of said screwswhich are tapped into the core. Contact springs 14 and 15 are attachedto the lower ends of said strips and in order to provide for theirmovement the core is notched or cut away upon opposite sides as shown at16 and 17. A sleeve 18, corresponding in length to that of said core, isfitted thereover so as to inclose said terminals and contact springs,said sleeve having corresponding notches 19, Fig. 2, at its lower end topermit the passage of contact-pins between the arms of thecontact-springs as hereinafter described.

A contact-head generally designated by 20 consists of a hollow cylinder21, the inner diameter of which corresponds to the outer diameter of thesleeve 18 upon which it is Said cylinder is provided with an interiorplug 22 at its lower end, said cylinder and plug being formed fromvinsulating material. Metal contact-pins 23,

24, are located diametrically opposite to each other in the part 21, tocontact with the springs 14 and 15, and metal terminals or pins 25, 26,are inserted in bores in the part 18 and tapped into the pins 23 and2&1. The

ends of said terminals project beyond the head as shown, and serve forthe attachment of a fuse wire 30. ,.A thimble 27 is placed over the part21, the lower end thereof forming a shoulder 28 for the purpose oflimiting the extent to which the fuse-head may be projected into thepowder holding receptacle, which preferably consists of an elongatedreceptacle 31, provided with a bottom of fragile material, such, forexample, as tissue-paper and having a circular opening in the top forthe reception of the part 21 of the sleeve 20; said opening being ofsuch a diameter as to cause said part to fit closely therein so that theweight of the receptacle may be sustained as a result of the frictionalcontact between the parts. The sleeve 18 is also provided with a similarshoulder or enlargement 29, Figs. 1, 2 and 8, at its upper end toprevent it from passing through the opening in the top of the closure.

The operation of said device is as follows: Assuming the closure 1 to besuspended ready for use, the electric contact plug 9 is connected with asource of electrical energy by inserting it in a socket while the body11 is projected downwardly through the circular opening in the top ofthe closure until the shoulder 29, by which it is supported, is inengagementtherewith. A fuse-wire 30 is stretched diametrically acrossthe lower end of the head and wound around the terminals 25 and 26, thusforming a metallic connection between them. The head is then passed intothe closure through any suitable hand-hole, not shown, or otherwise, andplaced upon the lower end of the body 1, the pins 25 and 26 passing intothe notches 19, and thence into contact with the spring contact members14; and 15. It is understood, of course, that prior to this operationthe electric switch should be turned so as to shut off the current.Should this precaution be neglected, however, no further harm would bedone than to burn out the fuse wire 80, which could immediately bereplaced. When the head 2O is inposition the powder container 31 issecured to it in the manner described and shown and the switch is closedto produce the flash. Inasmuch as the powder container is not placed inposition until after the fuse is interposed in the circuit, it isobvious that there can be no danger of a premature explosion. Moreover,from the manner in which said container is constructed, the operator isfree to vary theflashlight charge to conform to varying requirements.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters-Patent is:

1. A flashlight apparatus in which is combined an elongated body ofinsulating material adapted to be projected downwardly through the topof a flashlight closure, electric contact members inclosed within thelower end thereof, said members being connected through said body with asource of electric energy, a removable sleeve adapted to lit upon thelower end of said body, said sleeve having electrical contact memberstherein adapted, when said sleeve is in position, to engage those withinsaid body, terminal elements connecting with said contact elementswithin said sleeve, said terminal elements being arranged to projectbeyond the lower end of said sleeve, a detachable fuse wire forconnecting said terminals and a flash-light powder container adapted tobe detachably connected with said removable sleeve, whereby said sleevewith its fuse-wire may be connected with said elongated body beforeconnecting said powder container.

2. The combination in a flashlight apparatus of an elongated body ofinsulating material having a notch in its lower end, spring contactmembers therein upon opposite sides of said notch, said members beingconnected through said body with a source of electrical energy, a jremovable sleeve adapted to fit upon said body said sleeve havingmetallic members therein adapted to enter said notch to engage saidspring contact members, terminal elements connecting with said contactelements within said sleeve, said terminal elements being arranged toproject beyond the lower end of said sleeve, a detachable fuse-wire forconnecting said terminals and a detachable powder container having an'opening therein for the reception of said sleeve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presenceof two subscribing witnesses, this 11th day of July, 1911.

VILLIAM T. BARNUM.

l/Vitnesses:

D. H. FLETCHER, JENNIE L. Frsnn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ive cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

